Philadelphia Phillies Column: Pagan could be Phillies' angel in the outfield

San Francisco Giants center fielder Angel Pagan throws to second after fielding a ball hit for a single by Los Angeles Dodgers' Mark Ellis during the fourth inning of their baseball game, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Giants started the postseason quest for a second World Series title in the last three seasons Saturday night by kicking off their National League Division Series at home against the Reds.

It might be wise if the Phillies quietly rooted against San Francisco making an extended run this postseason. Otherwise they could see the market get crowded for a guy who might be the best bargain for what they are seeking in free agency this weekend.

Angel Pagan never has been to an All-Star Game, never has received as much as a 10th place nod on a Most Valuable Player ballot, never has won a Gold Glove. He made $4.85 million this season, his final year of arbitration.

While Buster Posey got most of the attention this season for having a terrific second half — one that has put the Giants catcher near the top of most MVP ballots — it’s tough to imagine Posey being that good after the All-Star break or San Francisco running away with the NL West in the final two months without Pagan.

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Pagan led the NL in triples with 15, and a whopping 10 of them came after the break. When the Giants started to take control of their division in August, Pagan was hitting .342 with a 1.002 OPS and 32 runs scored for the month.

When the Giants basically put the Dodgers in the cemetery by sweeping them at Dodgers Stadium in late August, Pagan absolutely torched LA, going 7-for-13 with six of the 14 runs San Fran scored in the series.

The Giants got Pagan in another hilariously bad trade by the Mets, who received a solid reliever (Ramon Ramirez) who seemed more spectacular pitching in San Fran than he really was, and Andres Torres, a 34-year-old outfielder whose career year in 2010 wasn’t even all that great.

Of course, it would be easier to laugh at the Mets if the Phillies hadn’t completely botched that area of need last winter, passing up on a slew of free-agent outfielders who hit from the right side and had massive 2012 seasons. Instead, they handed the keys to John Mayberry Jr., who dropped them down a sewer or something. Imagine how bad it would have been if Juan Pierre hadn’t lingered so long on the free-agent market that the Phillies gave him a what-the-hell contract a few weeks before spring training.

The Phils will be forced to confront a much shallower free-agent market, particularly when it comes to that power-hitting right-handed outfielder. Pagan is not going to be confused with Josh Willingham anytime soon, but he is a switch-hitter with speed, a very good center fielder, and might have more power potential than his numbers indicate.

Pagan had just one of his eight homers at home this season, and prior to 2012 he spent half of his seasons either at spacious Shea Stadium or downright cavernous Citi Field. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him blossom into a 20-homer/20-steal guy with Citizens Bank Field’s cozier dimensions in play.

Charlie Manuel did everything but call for a hit on former Phillie Michael Bourn, who has been mentioned often as a guy who could return to Philadelphia and patrol center field. So it would seem a bit uncomfortable if the Phillies actually signed Bourn, who probably won’t get the $100 million he allegedly would want, but could get $80 million.

Pagan is a bulked-up Bourn, with higher pop potential in his bat. He does everything another former Phillie, Shane Victorino, can do on the field, except he’s still getting better, whereas Victorino had an alarmingly regressive season. While Victorino is 5-10 and perhaps has emptied what his slighter build can offer, Pagan is 6-2, 200, and only has gotten a chance to be an everyday player for the last three seasons.

They key part of a Pagan deal is the price tag. A four-year, $35 million contract would get him here, and it’s tough to imagine him living up to those numbers.

Of course, those numbers could go up if the Giants make their way back to the World Series and Pagan finally starts getting the attention he deserves during the first postseason of his career.

So, for the Phillies’ sake, you might want to root for the Reds to make sure Pagan stays out of sight.